Despite EcoAir listing the DD322fw as a ‘simple’ model, it boasts an impressive range of functionality. But how does it function and is there anything you need to know before buying?
In this guide, we’ll take an in-depth look at the DD322fw to discuss its core functionality, list its key features and evaluate its pros and cons.
DD322 – Key Product Info
Prices & information last updated on 2024-01-09
DD322fw – Overview
Featuring a compact case 41cm wide by 55cm high by 18cm deep the DD322 is small for a unit which can suck in, up to an impressive, 10 litres of water each day. It is also home to a sizeable 3.5-litre water collection tank.
Portability
Weighing just 8.5kg the DD322fw is portable enough for most people to move between rooms as needed without much difficulty.
Our only gripe here is that the unit would have benefited from a collapsible carry handle. Instead, it only has a handle grips on the top left and right sides of the unit – which some people might find a little difficult to hold.
Desiccant Technology
It employs desiccant technology which is far more efficient and quieter, water removal system, than dehumidifiers which use compressors pumps.
The only minor drawback to this kind of water removal technology is that, particularly when the machine is new, it can produce a faint odour. Some people describe this as a sour smell or that it smells like plastic.
It is, however, completely harmless and soon passes. It is somewhat reminiscent of the smell the old-style CRT computer monitors use to emit when new and is nothing offensive.
Anti-tilt Safety Mechanism
Being an EcoAir machine this one features an anti-tilt mechanism that shuts the unit off if it is knocked over and is a great safety feature. Particularly if you have little ones or pets running around your home.
Using The DD322FW – Controls
Just like virtually every EcoAir dehumidifier the DD322FW features an intuitive and comprehensive control panel mounted on the top of the device. It allows you to easily configure the machine for all common uses in seconds.
1) Dial Operation
The main control on the panel is a large dial that, with a single turn, can switch the machine on and set the drying mode. As you turn the dial clockwise you increase the power of the machine. And, to help you know what relative humidity (RH) the DD322 is configured to reach, there are a few handy markers along the way.
You can set the machine to dehumidify from 80% RH down to 35% RH before it switches to continuous mode. That’s quite a range and is more than adequate to deal with the UK climate and also the common uses most people want from a dehumidifier.
In between the minimum and maximum settings EcoAir included a series of water droplets that provide at a quick glance roughly how much drying power the machine will provide.
2) Lowest Setting
Setting the dial at the first, single water droplet you would configure the machine to operate at its lowest power and it will attempt to achieve a consistent RH of around 60 – 80%.
This is ideal for keeping condensation off your walls and windows and, in most cases, is enough to prevent the growth of mould. Although if it is colder outside (less than 5°C) you will need to turn the power up to keep condensation at bay.
3) Medium Setting
Moving around the dial the next major setting is denoted with two water drops and will set the dehumidifier to maintain a RH of between 45-60% RH. This is fine for most day to day uses and also for dealing with any minor to moderate damp problems.
4) Highest Setting
The last of the water droplet settings is the most powerful of the 3 and will achieve between 45 – 35% RH and is the setting you will most likely need in the winter to keep condensation and mould at bay and for dealing with more severe damp problems.
5) Auto Shutoff
For each of the 3 settings above the unit will automatically switch the dehumidifier off when the desired humidity level has been reached.
It periodically tests the air to make sure the humidity levels do not rise too much. If the RH rises above the desired threshold the DD322 will activate again until the humidity has been lowered.
This handy feature helps ensure using the DD322 is relatively hands-off. You can leave it running while you are not home without worrying about it running up a huge electricity bill because it will only work whilst it is needed.
6) Laundry Mode
Laundry mode is the most powerful of all the settings and will continuously dry the air to rapidly lower the humidity level. As the name suggests this mode is used to help quickly dry washing but it is also perfect for drying bathrooms after showering or to quickly deal with major damp problems.
EcoAir have provided the obligatory warning notice with this setting which is common to all manufacturers: don’t use this setting for prolonged periods!
Why? Using this setting puts excessive strain on the unit which will obviously cause it to wear out much faster. Ideally, it should be used for no more than 2-3 days at a time before switching to a lower setting.
Power Setting
To the right of the main control dial is a slide switch that sets the power of the machine. You can choose between ‘Normal’ and ‘Quick’. There are a few things you need to know about these two settings:
‘Normal’ is the most cost-effective and quiet of the two power modes. We would recommend using ‘Quick’ sparingly to help reach the desired RH level faster than simply using a more powerful setting on the dial.
Indicator Lights
Like any well-designed machine the DD322FW provides a level of feedback so you can quickly check the status of the appliance and see at a glance if there are any problems.
This is provided by two lights on the panel. The first light is the power on indicator, it is really only worth mentioning here because it will only come on if the dehumidifier is running. And, in most settings, that will only happen if the RH rises above the selected threshold. So, if you do turn it on and it does not come on straight away it is only because the humidity is already below your set threshold.
The second light is another one common to every dehumidifier and that is the tank full/inserted incorrectly light. It also acts as a general fault light too. So, if you’ve emptied the tank and the unit does not restart it can often mean there is another problem with the DD322. Usually, when this happens the filter needs cleaning.
Performance
Because the DD322fw is a desiccant dehumidifier it can operate in almost any reasonable temperature conditions from 1°C to 35°C. This allows it to be used not just in the home but also can be placed to deal with damp in garages and most other outbuildings quite comfortably.
EcoAir states this dehumidifier can collect up to 10 litres of water per day at 20°C and 60% RH. However, if you take a look at some other dehumidifiers this might sound like a small amount. After all, some boast extraction figures of up to 20 litres of water per day.
But don’t be fooled! EcoAir manufacture dehumidifiers made specifically for UK temperatures and humidity conditions. So you can be sure this is a realistic figure you can depend upon and not based on conditions that are rarely if ever, found in the UK.
Water Collection
The water collection tank is housed in the front of the unit and cold hold a very roomy 3.5 litres of water and is towards the larger end of the tank sizes you’ll find in a dehumidifier.
But why is this important? Quite simply because it means you will need to empty the tank less often! You can also find a handy water level window mounted on the front of the tank so you can see in a glance how the unit is performing. You’ll also notice that the tank will fill quickly when you start dealing with a damp problem. But, after a few days when the humidity has levelled out, you will only need to empty every few days (depending on its use).
The tank features an easy to grip folding carry handle and lid to help ensure you won’t splash any water on your way to empty it. The lid can be popped off for fast emptying and then is replaced before the tank can be slid back into the machine.
And, for those of you who want to allow it operate completely automatically, you can fit a small hose to the back of the machine and allow it to continuously drain water safely down your sink, for example, without ever having to worry about emptying the tank.
How Quiet Is The DD322?
Desiccant dehumidifiers are generally a much quieter type of dehumidifier and the DD322fw comes in at about 36dBA.
This makes it fairly quiet and when operating should only produce a moderate hum on its lowest setting. The truth is you are never going to get a completely silent dehumidifier and this unit is definitely one of the quieter models available.
DD322 Pros and Cons
What We Think About The EcoAir DD322fw:
In our opinion, the DD322fw is another hit from EcoAir.
It features a barrage of useful features in a simple control panel and can be set to automatically keep its running costs low.
And whilst it doesn’t have as many features as some of its bigger brothers such as the DC202 or the DD122fw it was never designed to, and has a price to match. It is a perfect example of a mid-range dehumidifier and should be more than adequate to deal with damp in any average-sized home.
- Powerful extraction of up to 10 Litres of moisture at cold temperatures as low as 1 degree Celcius. (Note that...
- 3.5 litre tank capacity with optional Continuous Drainage (1 metre hose supplied).
- Features : Powerful laundry function with turbo and quiet modes; Super Quiet mode at 36dBA; 2 mode settings - Quiet &...
Prices & information last updated on 2024-01-09
